Improvement in ash-chutes



l. P. SGHWEIKERT.

Ash-Chutes.

NO. 166,637. Patented Aug.10,l875.

MM Mai,

N. PETERS; PHOTO-Uruoempnm WASHINGTONA D C;

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

JOHN P. SOHWEIKERT, OF YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN ASH-CHUTES.

Specification forming part of Lettels Patent No. 166,637, dated August 10, 1875; application filed June 2, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J onN P. SCHWEIKERT, of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ash-Chutes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a central vertical section of my improvement, showing the branch chute and hopper closed. Fig. 2 is a like section, showing it open. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken in the line .r x, Fig. l.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to chutes in dwellings and other buildings for the passage of ashes and other rubbish from the upper doors on flats to a common receptacle below; and it consists in a branch chute and swinging hopper for the several floors, so constructed and arranged that, whether the hopper is open or closed, the communication between the main chuteand theseveraliiats where the branches are situated is so controlled as to prevent the entrance of dust from the main chute into any of the flats. Each branch chute is provided with a swinging' hopper whose front side constitutes the door ofthe brauch, so that when the hopper is pushed in the entrance to the branch chute is closed, and when the hopper is swung out to receive ashes the b ottom of the hopper serves as an inner door to close the communication at the intersection of the branch chute with the main chute. In this manner I am enabled to keep each dat or door ofa building shut ott' from open communication with the main chute, whether the door of its branch chute is open or closed, andconsequently no foul air or dust can enter from the main chute through a branch chute when ashes or rubbish are descending past it from an upper floor, and my invention thus obviates a great defect in ash-chutes as heretofore constructed.

The letter A designates the main ash-chute, which extends from the upper story or flat to the lower part of the building, terminating below in a suitable receptacle or ash-bin, (not shown.) At each story or dat of the building is a branch chute, B, composed of a frame of metal, or other suitable material, set in its place in the wall while the wall is being built, and so constructed and arranged that its outer side O forms part ofthe surface of the inner wall D of the story where it is placed, and its inner side E forms a continuation of the main chute A, the edges of the frame being made to overlap the edges of the wall, as seen at F F. The branch chute is provided with a doorway, G, opening intothe story or flat where it is placed, and with a doorway, H, where it the rear side, which is toward the main chute,

so that any rubbish placed therein through its top can be discharged through its open rear side into the main chute. In Fig. l the hopper is represented in its closed position, its front side K forming the door of the branch chute, which it completely shuts ott' from the flat or story L. When the branch chute is in this position its bottom M declines toward the main chute in such a manner that the con; tents of the hopper will be readily discharged into it through the opening H. a'In Fig. 2 the hopper is represented open, in which position its bottom M closes the opening H, the edge ofthe bottom coming up against the lower edge of the part E, so as to limit the extent to which the hopper can be opened. When the hopper is in this position its front part audits two sides are projected into the space L ready to receive the rubbish which is to be precipitated into the main chute, and while in this position the dat L is not exposed to annoyance from any rubbish, which may at that moment be descending the main chute from an upper story, because the door-way H is close by the bottom of the hopper. The front of the hopper is provided with a handle, N, for moving itin or out, and its sides are provided with pins O, which engage with the angular slots P in the sides of the branch chute when the hopper is closed, so as to lock it. In order to unlock the hopper the attendant lifts the hopper a litte distance, so as to take the pins O out of the vertical part ofthe slots, when the hopper can be swung outward 5 and to allow of this movement of the hopper the slots in the bearings of the hinge J are elongated, but in an inclined direction, as shown in Figs. l and 2 in full and dotted lines.

I do not wish to restrict myself to the form or proportions of parts here shown, nor to the form I have here given to the branch chute, as the same can be modi tied without departing from the principle of my invention, as, for eX- ample, the inner part E, which here forms part of the frame ofthe branch chute, may be a part of the permanent wall of the building, and the locking device may be modied. It is important that the lower edge of the hopper, along the line of its joint-hinge J, be tight in all positions of the hopper, so as to prevent the entrance into the house of dust from beneath the bottom of the hopper, and I therefore make .the contact as close as possible along that line, as well as at other places. In this example I have provided for a close bottom joint by inclining the slots Qin the bearings of the hinge in a direction toward the wall, so asl to compel the lower front edge of the hopper to hug the Wall on that line and make atight joint.

My improvement can be used in buildings already erected by cutting proper openings in the several stories for branch chutes, and these openings can be so made as to receive the swinging hoppers without requiring an elaborate framing for the branch chutes.

My invention can be so carried out as to be used in disposing of liquids and liquid rubbish, as well as solid matters, through the main chute by causing the swinging hopper to be so constructed as to combine, with its ordinary oice, the further oflioe of a closet, washbasin, or closet-urinal, which will be concealed in the wall when not in actual use; but these improvements will form the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The swinging hopper I, in combination with a branch chute, B, and main chute A, substantially as described.

2. The swinging hopper I, arranged in the wall of a house, in-combination with the main chute A, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I' have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JOHN P. SCHWEIKERT. [L S.] Witnesses:

J VAN SAN'rvoonD, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

